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eine. ein.. pas... @fait JOHN W. MARTIN, OAF WASH-IiiIGr'lON,.DISTRIGfl` OF COLUMBIA. Laim Panni No. 63,067, ma Marel. i9, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT 1N GATES.

T0 ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. MARTIN, of the city and county of llashington, kDistrict of Columbia, have'v invented an Ilmprovcmentin Self-Closing Gates; and I do hereby declare that the following is n. full, clear, and exact .description thereof, reference being had to thc accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in wings- Figure 1 is an elevation of an iron park gate, having my invention applied to it. Figure 2 shows the invention applied to a. stile or revolving gate. `Fi`gure 3 shows the invention applied to doors. Y

Figures 4 and 5 are side views of the c ireular inclined planes which are used tovclose a. gate when opened. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponpding'p'arts in the several figures. lhisinvcntion vis designed tol effect, the closing oi' gates, doors, or stiles without the use of weights and pulleys or sp1-ings, but by means ofcl simple device, which will cause the weight of 'the gate, when open, to operate in` closing it, and whichA censtitutes a. part of the turning post of the gate, and also the lower step or bearing for supporting the gate, whether it be opened or closed.

The nature of my invention consists in the application to a gate of a device which will cause the gate to rise and descend bodilyupon au inclined plane vwhen opened and'closed,-so that the weight of the gate, when open, will cause it to descend, and, at the same time, to swing back to aclosed position, said device consisting of tubular-socket portions, which are adapted to forni the step for, and the lower end of, the swinging-gate post, and which have spiral inclined planes formed on their abutting faces, and also a. central pin, for keeping them in place when they are separated by the opening of the gate, as will be hereinafter described.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand my. invention, I will describe its construction and operation.

In iig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, A represents a metal gate, which is hung so as to open in two directions, the -latch a and latch-plate a being adapted for fastening the gate when closed. The upper end of the post B of this gate has a cylindrical tenon or pin formed on it, of such length as to allow the gate the required vertical motion, This pin b passes freely through an eye which is made through the end ofn'hori- 4zontal rod, C, of the fence, and forms the upper pivot attachment of the gate. A round or square tcno'n is formed upon the lower end of the gate-post B, which tenon enters a socket which is formed in the upperA end of a tubular portion, E, of an equal diameter'to the gate-post. By means of a-transverse pin or key the portion E is secured permanently on its post- The lower end of the portion E' has right and left spiral inclined` planes e s formedupon its lower end, as shown in iigs. 4 and 5. Each inclined surface extends half way around the portion E,-and both planes or surfaces terminate at their highest and lowest points in acute angles. The gate-post thus constructed is stepped upon a cylindrical portion, F, which is secured rigidly, by lending or in any suitable manner, to the foundation Gr in an upright position, so that its axis will exactly coincide wit-lube axis of motion of the gate-post. The upper end of this step F has formed upon it right and left spiral inclined surfaces e e', which are exactcounterparts of 'the surfaces ege, so that, when the gate is closed and fastened, said surfaces e e und e el will be brought snugly together, as shown in g. 1. The pin J, which projects up centrally from the step F, and enters a socket in the terminal portion E of the ygate-post, forms the lower pivot connection of the I gate. The portion E is made of cast metal, with its spirally-in`olined surfaces e e chilled or case-hardened, and with a hole 'through it for receiving the lower end ofthe gate-post, and also the pintle or pivot J,'as above described. 'lhc step portion F is also cast with its spirally-inclined'surfaces chilled or case-hardened, and also with a wrought-iron pin or pintle, J, above described. The hardening of the impinging surfaces e c e` e not only prevents their rapid wear, but it also diminishes the friction which would otherwise bc produced, and renders the frequent application of oil unnecessa'rv. The uscof a wrought-iron pin, J, permanently secured to the step F, greatly strengthens the jointagainst shocks and concussions, which might break @if a cast-iron pin. The two cylindrical portions E F, which constitute the lower bearing and hionged connection of the gate, are of an equal diameter, so that, when the gate is closed, they have the appearance of being a part of the gate-post, and present no lodgement for ice, snow, or anything else. The joints fit snugly together, and. anything getting between the surfaces e c', when the gat-e is opened or partially open, will bc forced out when the gate is closed.

Wh'eutlie gate is swung open in one direction the spirally-inclined surface e will slide upon the corresponding surface e on one side of the portions F; 4and lwhen the gatel `is opened in 'amv opposite direction theinclined surface e will' sldejuponthe surface e on the opposite sideof tl'1e` portions E F; ond i nV lthe act of opening the gate ineither ldirection it will rise bodily, so that itsweight will operate totV elose'it again. In fig. 2 the inven- -tionfis shown applied to thecentrol post of a. turnings'tile. In -this case the post -is allowed to rotate in.

either direction, andthe doublelincli'ned'surfaccsnt the lower enfl of said post keep the stile closed.' .In fig; 3.1

the invention is represented as applied to hinges for hanging doors orshzutters, in which cose-the `spiriti surfaces of the upper hinge are represented as inclining in en' opposite direction to theI spiral surfaces of the lower hinge.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desirel to secure by Letterslotent, is 1. The combination of the ftbular portion E with .af step F und pintleJ, said parts E and F being oonetructed with spirelly-inclined abutting surfaces, and' applied to o gnte-post, substantially in the manner :md for the purposes described. l

v 2.- In combination with the spirally-inclincdtubular portion E; and the step F,.forrned of' cost or hardened metal, I claim the wrought-motel pin .l',4 substantially n-s rind for the purposes described.

J. W. MARTIN. j

Witnessesr EDW. ScHAFER, R. T. CAMPBELL.- 

